“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Your mindset matters. That’s what everybody says, right? If you change your mindset, you change your life. At least, that’s what we’re told. What if Christ were to change your mindset? What if you lived your life with your mind on the cross? You would be humble. It took the death of God’s own Son to save you from your sins. What if you lived your life with your eyes on Jesus’ empty tomb? You would be confident. Jesus has already won the victory over sin and death for you! This Holy Week, God wants to fill you with humble confidence through Jesus’ death and resurrection. I hope you can listen to this Palm Sunday sermon: “The Mindset of Christ.” Jesus loves you!

The old saying goes, “Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Of course, that’s completely false. Words, especially someone else’s false words that accuse you or attack your reputation, can destroy your career and your marriage and your family. God knows. That’s why he gave the 8th Commandment: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). Nowhere do we see that commandment broken more clearly than at Jesus’ trial. The perfect One died for all the sinners. The innocent One was condemned, so that the guilty could go free. Through Jesus’ cross, God looks at us not as others see us but through his eyes of grace. I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon on the 8th Commandment: “Guilty of the Truth.” Jesus loves you!

Sin is like sand at the beach. There’s a lot of it. It’s everywhere. And it sticks to you. Not to your body. Sin sticks to your conscience. You can look clean, but you still feel so dirty. You can try to leave that sin behind, but guilt rubs between your toes and grits between your teeth. You can’t get rid of it. Sin sticks to our consciences like sand sticks to your body. How can we get a clean conscience? Through Jesus! The blood of Jesus will “cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death” (Hebrews 9:14). Jesus’ blood does what nothing else can: It cleans our consciences with the free and full forgiveness he won on the cross. I hope you can listen to this sermon about Jesus’ sacrifice for you and me: “A Clean Conscience.” Jesus loves you!

God’s Word and promises are food for your soul. How long can you go without food for your stomach? A little while. As in, a couple hours. Then you get cranky. Hangry, right? So how long can you go without food for your soul? A little while, but not long. Soon your heart gets anxious and discouraged and guilty and tired. You’re hungry. So come and eat! Every church service. Every Bible study. Every devotion. Every time you read the Word, it’s like a big juicy steak. When your soul is discouraged, come and eat! When your heart feels guilty, come and eat! When you long to be loved, come and eat! “You who have no money, come, buy and eat!” (Isaiah 55:1). God wants to fill your soul. The best soul food is found in Christ. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Come and Eat!” Jesus loves you!

One of the first things Jesus preached was, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). Repentance is at the heart of Christianity. What does it mean to repent?Here’s a Bible verse that explains: “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).I hope you can listen to this short devotion about turning from our sins and trusting in God’s mercy.Jesus loves you!

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things” (Romans 8:32). If God was willing to give us his own Son… If Jesus was willing to give up his life for us on the cross… What do we need to worry about? Nothing. What do we need to covet? Nothing. Every time you want to curl up in a ball and cry about what you don’t have… Every time your sinful nature tells you that you need… Remind yourself: I have. I have in Jesus. Every day, God is good to you. Jesus’ cross kills coveting. I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon on the 7th, 9th, and 10th Commandments: “Coveting Kills.” Jesus loves you!

Is it worth it to be a Christian? Following Jesus can be hard. Some days, the devil makes it seem like it isn’t worth it. Is it? Yes! You have what everybody else is looking for. Do you realize that? You have forgiveness for every sin. You have peace with God. You have hope. You have a future. You have life—life here on earth and forever in heaven. You have what everybody else is looking for! You have value. Jesus died for you! You have an identity—the blood-bought child of God. Is it worth it to be a Christian? Yes! It’s true that Jesus asks you to give up everything. But then he gives you so much more. I hope you can listen to this sermon: “Take Up Your Cross.” Jesus loves you!

No commandment makes you and me feel more dirty than the 6th Commandment: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). Lust, adultery, pornography… Do you struggle with any of those sins? Then no commandment better helps us picture the depths of Jesus’ forgiveness. There is forgiveness for lust. Jesus gave himself to make you clean! There is forgiveness for adultery. Jesus washed you with water through the word in your Baptism! There is forgiveness for guilt and shame. Jesus has made you radiant, without stain or wrinkle, but holy and blameless! I hope you can listen to this Lenten sermon about the 6th Commandment: “Adulterous Eyes.” Jesus loves you!